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YouLend Review

YouLend is a UK revenue-based finance provider founded in 2014, offering merchant cash advances and revenue-linked finance to small businesses. Repayments are automatically collected as a fixed percentage of the business's daily card sales, meaning repayments rise when revenue is strong and fall during quieter periods. YouLend operates as an embedded finance partner for major platforms including eBay, Just Eat, Shopify, and Amazon, reaching thousands of businesses through marketplace integrations.

Written by the Lendus editorial team. Last updated: April 2026.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Amount

£5k – £1M

Rates

1.1 – 1.5

factor rate (not APR); total repayable is 1.1x–1.5x the advance amount; no fixed term

Speed

Decision within 24 hours; funds often within 1–3 business days

Trustpilot

4.8/5

3,100 reviews

What is YouLend?

YouLend (YouLend Ltd) is a UK-based business finance provider founded in 2014 and headquartered in London. YouLend is a UK revenue-based finance provider founded in 2014, offering merchant cash advances and revenue-linked finance to small businesses. Repayments are automatically collected as a fixed percentage of the business's daily card sales, meaning repayments rise when revenue is strong and fall during quieter periods. YouLend operates as an embedded finance partner for major platforms including eBay, Just Eat, Shopify, and Amazon, reaching thousands of businesses through marketplace integrations. They have lent £1 billion+ to date, helping 50,000+ UK businesses.

Founded 2014 London Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 762687)

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Products offered

Merchant Cash Advance Revenue-Based Finance

Rates and costs

Rate range
1.1 – 1.5 (factor rate (not APR); total repayable is 1.1x–1.5x the advance amount; no fixed term)
Representative APR
Not applicable — revenue-based finance is priced using a factor rate, not APR; representative factor rate 1.25
Amount range
£5,000 – £1,000,000
Approval speed
Decision within 24 hours; funds often within 1–3 business days

Representative example

Borrow £25,000 over Typically 6–12 months depending on card sales volume. Total repayable: £31,250. Cost of credit: £6,250. Your rate depends on your circumstances.

Eligibility requirements

Minimum trading history
6+ months
Minimum turnover
£5,000 per month in card sales
Credit requirements
YouLend focuses primarily on your business's card sales revenue rather than credit score. A basic credit check is performed, but businesses with imperfect credit histories are regularly approved provided they have consistent card payment volumes. Active insolvency proceedings or very recent business registration (under 6 months) are the main disqualifying factors. Personal credit score is a lesser consideration than with traditional lenders.

How to apply

1

Check eligibility through Lendus — answer a few questions about your business and funding needs (2 minutes)

2

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3

Review your matched options — see rates, terms, and eligibility from multiple providers including YouLend

4

Choose the best offer and complete the application with your matched lender directly

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Repayments flex automatically with your revenue — lower in slow months, faster in busy periods
  • No fixed monthly payment, no missed payment risk due to seasonal dips in sales
  • Revenue-based approach means businesses with imperfect credit can often still qualify
  • Embedded into major platforms (eBay, Shopify, Just Eat) — many businesses receive pre-qualified offers
  • No early repayment penalty — paying off faster costs nothing extra

Cons

  • Factor rate pricing (not APR) makes it difficult to directly compare cost with traditional loans — can be expensive
  • Only suitable for businesses with significant card payment volumes — cash-only businesses cannot qualify
  • No fixed end date for repayment — if card sales are low, the advance takes longer to repay
  • Maximum advance of £1 million is based on card sales volume, so many smaller businesses will receive much less
  • Cost of credit can be high relative to a term loan if repayment takes many months

Is YouLend right for you?

Best for

Retail, hospitality, food and beverage, and e-commerce businesses with consistent card payment volumes that need working capital without fixed monthly repayments. Particularly well suited to seasonal businesses (restaurants, cafés, holiday retailers) where revenue fluctuates, as repayments automatically adjust to match income.

Not ideal for

B2B businesses that invoice clients and receive payments by bank transfer rather than card, professional services firms, or businesses that primarily deal in cash. Also not ideal for businesses seeking the lowest-cost borrowing — factor rate finance is typically more expensive than a fixed-rate bank loan over a comparable period.

YouLend alternatives

If YouLend isn't the right fit, consider these alternatives:

Liberis Capify iwoca

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Frequently asked questions about YouLend

Is YouLend legit?
Yes, YouLend is a legitimate and FCA-regulated UK lender. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 762687) and registered in England and Wales (Companies House: 09148390). Founded in 2014, YouLend has become one of the UK's leading revenue-based finance providers and is a trusted embedded lending partner for major platforms including eBay, Just Eat, and Shopify. It holds a Trustpilot score of 4.8 from over 3,000 reviews.
What are YouLend interest rates?
YouLend does not charge interest in the traditional sense. Instead, it uses a factor rate — typically between 1.1 and 1.5 — which means you agree upfront to repay a fixed total amount. For example, a factor rate of 1.25 on a £20,000 advance means you repay £25,000 in total, regardless of how quickly or slowly you repay. There are no monthly interest charges and no compounding — the cost of the advance is fixed from day one.
Can I get YouLend with bad credit?
YouLend is significantly more accessible to businesses with imperfect credit than traditional lenders, because its underwriting focuses primarily on your card sales revenue rather than credit score. A basic credit check is performed, but consistent card payment volumes are the main qualification criteria. Businesses with historic CCJs or minor defaults are regularly approved. The main requirements are at least 6 months of trading and a minimum monthly card sales volume.
How much can I borrow from YouLend?
YouLend offers revenue-based finance from £5,000 up to £1,000,000. The amount you are offered is directly linked to your average monthly card payment revenue — typically you can access up to 100%–200% of your average monthly card sales. This means a business turning over £20,000 per month in card sales might be offered between £20,000 and £40,000.
Is YouLend FCA regulated?
Yes. YouLend Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FRN 762687. FCA regulation requires YouLend to treat customers fairly, disclose costs transparently, and follow responsible lending practices. YouLend is also subject to FCA rules on embedded finance and must ensure partners who distribute its products meet conduct standards.
How long does YouLend take to approve?
YouLend typically provides a funding decision within 24 hours of receiving a complete application. For businesses accessing YouLend through a partner platform like eBay or Just Eat, pre-qualified offers may be available instantly in the merchant dashboard. Once accepted, funds are usually transferred within 1–3 business days. The process is largely automated, which makes it faster than traditional bank lending.
Can I repay YouLend early?
Yes, you can repay your YouLend advance early at any time, and there are no early repayment penalties. However, because YouLend uses a fixed factor rate rather than daily interest, repaying early does not reduce the total amount owed — you still pay the agreed total regardless of speed. The benefit of early repayment is simply that you clear the debt sooner and free up your card revenue faster.
YouLend vs Liberis — which is better?
Both YouLend and Liberis offer revenue-based finance with repayments linked to card sales, and both are legitimate FCA-regulated lenders. YouLend has a strong edge through its partnerships with major marketplaces (eBay, Just Eat, Shopify), making it particularly accessible for e-commerce and food delivery businesses already on those platforms. Liberis has a longer track record (founded 2007) and similarly broad reach through its own platform integrations. The best choice depends on which platform your business already uses — if you're a Just Eat or eBay merchant, YouLend is likely the easier option; otherwise, compare offers from both.

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